Kogi state government has condemned the tactless and dubious attempt to blackmail security and media practitioners by the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.
The state government it has no clandestine plan to frame up anyone as alleged by the SDP candidate.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said Governor Yahaya Bello has not time for lightweight politicians and so he has no plan to frame up anyone, “not to talk about political Lilliputians with questionable character like Murtala Yakubu Ajaka”.
The statement said Murtala Ajaka is not a political threat nor a contender, but only forcing on himself the garment of importance.
“It is important to tell Nigerians and the world that Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the said governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, is on a blisteringly shameful agenda of whipping sentiments, spreading falsehood with reckless abandon so as to put on himself, a garment of importance and create unnecessary air around himself as a contender that he is not.
“Kogites and Nigerians know Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and they know that his intention is to create ethnic division and blow his own ego. We know the contenders and the pretenders and he is not a political threat as far as Kogi State is concerned.
“The ignorance of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his team is such a flourishing folly, thinking that the Governor is an interested party and would therefore allow his state to become a state of anomie and lawlessness.
“The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello, CON, is the Governor of all the people of Kogi State and he owes them a duty of care and security. He swore to protect them and protect them he shall,” the state government said.
The state government urged Murtala Ajaka to sort his problem with security agencies.
“Muritala Yakubu Ajaka knows what he has done and should carry his cross boldly instead of hiding behind one finger. We have no hand in the problems that his unbridled inordinate ambition has brought upon him.
“The tactless and dubious attempt to blackmail media practitioners shows the myopia of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his co-travellers to political oblivion. History has shown that no one can ever defeat the media, especially when practitioners are on the path of truth. The media won’t be cowed by an unknown, misled, dubious and unguarded political minor.”
The statement warns those spreading falsehood in the state to desist or prepare to face the law.
“As a government, we will not condone reckless statements as we urge the security agencies to arrest the current trend by acting decisively against inflammatory statements. A lack of action has emboldened some political opportunists to think they can spread lies, incite the people, play politics of ethnic profiling and still get away with them.”
The state government re-assured all political parties and candidates of their safety as they go about their electioneering.
